Adelie Penguin AdaptationsPygoscelis adeliae

How are Adelie penguins adapted to survive in Antarctica?

One of the "classic" penguin species, the second most southerly
after the Emperor, Adelie penguins breed in the far south, but
leave it to head north with the onset of winter.

Anatomical - Structures of the body.

Behavioural - The manner in which animals move
and act.

Physiological - The internal functions of the
animal from biochemical, to cellular, tissue, organ and
whole organism levels.

Adelie
Penguin Anatomical
Adaptations

Compact shape, low surface area to volume ratio reduces
heat loss.

Very dense specialized feathers for insulation on land,
a layer of fat under the skin provides insulation in
the sea.

Short wings reduced to flippers for swimming underwater,
the musculature for those flippers is almost entirely held in
the body where it can be maintained at a warm temperature more
easily.

Backward pointing barbs on the tongue to stop slippery prey
escaping.

Black above and white underneath makes it harder to see
in the sea from underneath where predators wait. The colouration
also helps in warming and cooling the penguin on land when they
can turn the back or front to the sun according to whether they
need to warm up or cool down.

Adelie Penguin Behavioural Adaptations

Migrate north to escape the harsh Antarctic winter at the
end of the brief summer.

Arrive in the south early in the summer season, to take
best advantage of the seasonal abundance of food.

Tobogganing sliding on their front while pushing with legs,
saves a lot of energy in long journeys.

Build a crude nest of stones to lift the eggs above ground
level to prevent chilling from melting snow in summer.

Gather at the ice edge in large groups before jumping in
the sea in case of predators, this increases individual survival
chances.

Adelie
Penguin Physiological
Adaptations

Muscle has large amounts of myoglobin to hold extra oxygen
that can be used with food to generate energy more efficiently
during a dive.

A circulation counter-current system in the legs and flippers
mean that these regions are kept above freezing but below
the normal body temperature, so reducing heat loss. They are
mainly operated by muscles kept warm in the penguins body via
tendons.

During a deep dive, the heart rate slows from 80-100 down
to 20 beats per minute.

Able to cope with a high saline diet due to salt glands
and kidneys that produce concentrated urine (like many seabirds,
penguins can drink sea water and gain water).